Episode 791 Blood Alliance (7)
The two people met inside the tent of the Eastern Continental Allied Forces Command.
“It is the first time I have seen your face in person since we hunted the Bone Dragon together in the Republic of Beldirn. Hmm, now that I am calling you Verden instead of Asher, it feels like I am meeting a completely new person.”“Call me whatever you are comfortable with, Archbishop Joseph.”
Verden lightly raised his wine glass.
Facing him, who had become a transcendent being incomparable to the past, Archbishop Joseph also raised his glass as if toast.
“I heard that you left early on very urgent business. However, seeing that you are moving around so openly again like this, may I assume that your business is finished?”“I will never be away for the same matter again.”“That is a relief.”
The two people quenched their thirst.
“In any case, the timeframe I had planned did not even pass, yet the world has become quite chaotic in my absence. It is happening across all continents.”“Nevertheless, under the Goddess’s care, this world is fighting as one. The same is true for Eon. It is no exaggeration to say that thanks to the Identification Golem and the Blood-Crying Plague Alleviator, we were able to minimize casualties among humanity.”“I will convey the Archbishop of the Holy Order’s praise to the parties involved.”
In fact, Alpha and Beta, who created the Golem unit including the Identification Golem, were listening from inside [Einber]’s neck, but they did not go out of their way to make their presence known.
Verden did not visit the Eastern Continent Allied Forces camp immediately to spend time leisurely chatting.
“However, as long as subversive forces remain operating in the shadows, the current situation is bound to repeat itself. What we need is not countermeasures, but prevention.”“Of course. That is why we at the Luas Church are acting while considering every possibility. Furthermore, countermeasures will inevitably lead to prevention. For once these subversive forces are exposed, they will be chipped away just as much.”
Archbishop Joseph was convinced that no matter how strong the glory of the dead was, it would be difficult to withstand the religion of Luas.
It is a valid confidence.
After all, the Theocracy of Luas has a history of not only destroying the Xerion Empire at the cost of suffering, but also slaying the Legion’s Archdemon.Its inherent strength as a world religion is such that it is safe to say it is humanity itself.
So, on the other hand, I am curious.
Just how massive is the total military power of the Ruas Theocracy, and how will they put an end to the unfinished glory of the dead from the past?
Verden asked.
“Then, may I understand that the Luas religion has a way to prevent the resurrection of the ‘Old King’?”“?!!”
Archbishop Joseph wore a flustered expression, unable to control his emotions.It was a face he hadn’t seen in a long time.It was the same look he had seen when Verden boldly challenged the Darkwarton Tower Master to a magical transformation in the capital of the Kingdom of Estiria.
“her.”
──Bang!
Archbishop Joseph belatedly gulped down the red wine and checked his surroundings. Paladins were guarding the tent.Conversations going on inside certainly did not leak out.
“Where on earth did you hear of that ‘notoriety’? Could it be the Darkwarton Magic Tower? No, surely they wouldn’t break their promise with the Luas Cult.”“I cannot tell you the source. Just know that Eon possesses special intelligence capabilities.”“…Please tell me just this. Do you truly understand that history?”
Verden personally tilted the wine bottle and filled the Archbishop’s glass.
“800 years. The War of the Transcendents, Emperor Xerion, the Six Fragments of the Old King, a permanent seal created by the erasure of records and oblivion. Would that be a sufficient answer?”“Hahaha.”
Archbishop Joseph felt cold sweat trickling down his temples. Itwas a smile that wasn’t genuine.
“Verden… well, you’ve certainly become quite a dangerous person since I last saw you.”“I will take that as a compliment. But let’s get back to the point. If my previous question was quite difficult to answer, I will start with a lighter one. Of course, I am not obligated to answer, so please feel free to listen.”
Verden asked.
“I heard that the Ruas Church requested the cooperation of Adrian and other Transcendents to put an end to the Blood-Crying Plague as quickly as possible. Was it as helpful as you expected?”“Of course. Without them, the damage would have been far greater.”“If they were active enough, most of the pathogens of Landerk of Pervasion, the third servant of the Glory of the Dead, should have been eradicated by now. Only the main body must remain; are you planning to leave it to outsiders to deal with? The Ruas Theocracy?”
It is not a light question at all.
How on earth did they know that Landerk’s death was imminent?
It was just right before the Luas cultists realized that a significant number of the remaining pathogens had suddenly disappeared.
Could it be that Verden was involved in Landerk’s abnormal condition?
To think that there is a means to strike over a hundred pathogens scattered across the entire continent all at once—that in itself is nothing short of astonishing.
“You have a powerful ability to pierce the heart of others with just a few words. Since you make the opponent’s heart race like this, the international community should be on alert.”
Archbishop Joseph calmed his stomach as he sipped the refilled wine. In that brief moment, he regained his composure.
“The Ruas Theocracy plans to execute Landerk of Manyeon. It is just that a very fortunate and unexpected turn of events prevented me from contacting my collaborators in advance.”“So, a formidable force is coming.”“As you know, the servants who lead the Glory of the Dead are extremely tricky beings. If we do not deal with them decisively, we are bound to regret it. Therefore, ensuring that there is not even a glimmer of hope for escape, no matter what tricks Landerk tries, is a natural measure. You must know this.”“Yes, I have experienced it before.”
Verden took a sip of red wine, recalling the end of Kaesillus, the fourth servant who pioneered the magic of aging in exchange for avoiding death.
The Transcendents allied with the Luas Church are tightening the siege on Landerk, and the blockade line is converging toward zero moment by moment. There is no angle for even a Transcendent to escape.
Landerck can never escape death.It is a foregone conclusion.However, the problem is that the Glory of the Dead must also naturally know this fact.
Verden repeated the question-and-answer based on the information he had heard from the first necromancer.
“The fact that the Glory of the Corpse has acted so boldly can be interpreted as meaning it has located the whereabouts of the last remaining fragment of the Old King’s body. As an ally , I would like to ask what your countermeasures are.”“Hahaha, despite being a fledgling force, Eon’s intelligence capabilities are truly unrivaled. Or perhaps it is your personal intelligence. Either way, it all boils down to the same thing. At this rate, it is not right for me to back down. I suppose it has no choice.”
Archbishop Joseph put down his glass.
“As one of the Seven Archbishops, this is the best answer I can give you. Seek Landerck. Then you will know everything. What the preventive measures and countermeasures are regarding the ultimate activity of the Glory of the Dead.”
Verden immediately understood the hidden meaning and pulled his head.
“Understood.”“Very well. Let’s wrap things up now. We need to get going right away.”
Verden and Archbishop Joseph left the Allied tent. The Paladins and high-ranking officials from various nations who had been waiting outside stood firm.
“Under the Holy Light, thanks to your labors, we were able to protect countless lives from the evil undead. The undead crisis will come to an end within a few days. Toward that innocent light.”
As Archbishop Joseph made the sign of the cross, everyone except Verden offered a prayer. It was then that their gaze was averted from the golden cross.
“Tell the Supreme Council members of the Republic of Beldirn, the Duke of Liviant, and the King of Estiria.”
Verden raised his voice to the commanders of the Allied Forces, lingering his gaze a little longer on Kalia and Lobelin, who was further away.
“Let us meet at the World Conference.”“I obey the command of the Almighty.”“Yes! I will convey that message!”“See you on your way!!”
The heads of state of each country answer in unison.
“I ask you to keep the two of them under escort. For now.”“Yes, Senior.”“Understood.”
Cain and Enette nodded.
“I will see you next time in Gargant, Archbishop Joseph. I will send a separate message to the Acting Tower Master of Bohemy.”“Have a safe journey.”“I will be waiting for your word.”
Verden cast
“…….”
Lobeline fidgeted aimlessly with her hands behind her back.
* * *
Several large islands exist on the boundary line between Southern Delharun and the Autonomous Region of Middles, which divides the northern and central parts of the Eastern Continent.Most of them are uninhabited, as there are no significant advantages for humans to settle there.
If there is anything better about it, it is that it is quite spacious.
In other words, it is a place where there is no risk of damage even if a large-scale engagement occurs, nor is there any concern about unintended external interference.
───!
Adrian raced across the river at an invisible speed. His footprints, created belatedly as the water parted, soon vanished without a trace.
At that moment, countless shadows flickered beneath the murky surface. They were carcass fish—skinned, with large chunks of flesh torn off, and missing organs—Dreadfins.
Crack.
The light sword [Silendar] flashed.
In an instant, purple lines were drawn across the entire swarm of predatory undead, and before they could even react, they were split in half.
Even the aberrant species, which the Adventurer’s Guild had classified as Mithril-grade danger because they were so difficult to deal with, were laughable to the Transcendent.
Whoosh!
Adrian braked and used inertia to leap high. Landing on his target island, he crossed the forest.
I see the undead.I sliced them all in one blow.
The sunlight filtering through the branches illuminated the collapsed corpse. Adrian, having cleared away all such bothersome obstacles, came to a swift halt.
There is Landerck.
As expected, just as I had heard through the communication device, he looked quite disheveled.
“I heard you suffered a great defeat at the hands of your lord; you look like you’re about to die right now.”“I did nearly die. Still, it’s not that serious.”
Unlike before, Landerck’s face was pale with almost no color in it. It was enough to make one laugh when recalling his attitude up until now.
“You acted so foolishly, relying solely on pathogens as if you had a spare life.”“It stings to hear such a shameful truth from someone else like this. This was certainly something I never dared to anticipate. No matter how I think about it, I was unlucky.”
Landerck leaned the back of his head against the tree and took a deep breath.
“Anyway, perhaps because I am a Transcendent specialized in speed, you ended up seeking me out first, just as I expected. There was a Transcendent similar to you about 100 years ago. His name was Sandir Faen, known by the alias Jinyeon. He was an unfortunate Transcendent whose very homeostasis was shattered after he crossed paths with a Master while trying to achieve his ideals.”
Fit.
The sword energy flying towards the upper neck collided with the pre-prepared defensive black magic.
“Shut up. I’m not curious.”“I haven’t known you for very long, but I know one thing for sure. You’re not sociable. And you’re ruthless, too. But even I have no intention of dying as if nothing happened.”
Mado
“Adrian Chambers, I do have one last move to show you. Believe it or not, I have killed the extreme point, so you would better not underestimate me.”
Landerk emitted an unpleasant magical power from his entire body as he gleamed in his eyes. It was the aura of an evil sorcerer who had made the continent weep with blood.
Swoosh.
Adrian took a stance.
Even if there was an unbridgeable gap in skill levels, I did not let my guard down. I gradually corrected that mindset while traveling with my lord.
Kill with a single blow.
The moment Landerck makes even the slightest movement is the perfect opportunity. At that moment, I can cut off all means at the source and end his life with a single stroke.
Landerck is, naturally, a black mage not specialized in close combat. He does not have the reflexes to immediately respond to Adrian’s agile movements.
‘hmm?’
At that moment, Adrian sensed a very impressive presence that was hard to forget.
Not long after, Landerck also flinched and looked to the side. He clicked his lips regretfully.
“……My movements have gotten tangled up in many ways due to an unexpected variable.”“So you are the main body.”
A beautiful woman with shoulder-length black hair and gray eyes—the Master of the Temple appeared.
